Srinagar: While interacting with the armed forces on the occasion of Diwali at Kargil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a privilege for him to celebrate Diwali amid all of them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said that from the victorious land of Kargil, he wishes the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali.
PM Modi said that there was not a single war with Pakistan where Kargil did not raise the flag of victory. Diwali means ‘Festival of Ending Terrorism’ and Kargil made it possible. “Our army crushed the fountain of terrorism in Kargil and people, till today remember the Diwali of the country’s victory,” PM Modi said.
He said that every citizen in India sleeps peacefully because of the armed forces guarding our borders. “I bow to the spirit of the Indian Armed Forces. Your sacrifices have always made our country proud”, PM added.
PM Modi said that during the Ukraine war, everyone saw how India’s national flag became a shield for its citizens stranded there. The respect for India has increased worldwide. This is happening because India is successfully standing against its internal and external enemies.
Referring to the armed forces, the PM said, “Just as you are protecting us at all the borders, we are working inside the country to fight evils like terrorism, ‘naxalism’, corruption.” ‘Naxalism’ was a major part of it. The nation is in its grip, but today it is diminishing rapidly.”
To facilitate the soldiers of this country in realising their responsibilities, PM said they are developing hi-tech infrastructure in the border areas with seamless connectivity.
“I commend the three armed forces for deciding that more than 400 types of defense equipment will not be imported but made in India. When our men fight with made-in-India weapons, they will not only will feel pride but also the element of surprise to defeat the enemy”, he added.
“We never saw war as a first option. Be it the battle of Lanka or Kurukshetra, we tried to postpone it until the last moment.We are against war but there can be no peace without force. If anyone dares to look at us with evil eyes, our armed forces will give a befitting reply”, PM said. (KINS)
Corrupt forces won’t be spared, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that those who indulge in corruption will not be spared, however influential or strong they may be.
Addressing jawans in Kargil on the occasion of Diwali, he said that such corrupt forces for many years blocked progress, but now all those gaps are being filled.
Modi’s comments have come at a time when the Government has cancelled the FCRA licence of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, leading to political sparring between the Congress and BJP.
Modi further said that following the Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat plan, all the three defence forces will now make 400 weapons indigenously.
He said that soon soldiers would be able to use modern indigenous weapons while the Government is preparing state of the art infrastructure in frontline areas to strengthen the country’s defence.
Kargil, the PM said, has been witness to all victories against Pakistan and also reminisced about his visit there during the Kargil conflict in 1999.
He said that in today’s global perspective, Diwali symbolises end of terrorism and therefore, it is imperative to spread the message of peace on the occasion.
Modi had reached Kargil earlier in the morning, to celebrate Diwali with personnel posted there.
PM Modi calls on President Murmu, both exchange Diwali greetings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met President Droupadi Murmu and they exchanged Diwali greetings and also shared their “desire for peace, prosperity and a better tomorrow for the whole of humanity”.
“It was my pleasure to receive Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji today. We exchanged Diwali greetings and shared our desire for peace, prosperity and a better tomorrow for the whole of humanity on this festival that marks the victory of light over darkness,” President Murmu tweeted, along with the pictures of the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi celebrated Diwali with soldiers in Kargil.
